Santi intensifies on its path to Aurora

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MANILA, Philippines (3RD UPDATE) – Tropical storm Santi has slightly intensified on its path west towards the Aurora-Isabela area.

As of weather bureau PAGASA’s 11 pm update, Santi was located 410 km east of Baler, Aurora, with maximum sustained winds of 105 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 135 km/h.

Public storm warning signal number 2 has been placed in effect over the following provinces, based on the latest information:

• Isabela
• Aurora 
• Northern Quezon 
• Polilio Islands

Public storm warning signal number 1 is now in effect over the following provinces:

• Southern Cagayan
• Kalinga
• Abra
• Mt. Province
• Ilocos Sur
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• La Union
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Nueva Ecija
• Pangasinan
• Tarlac
• Zambales
• Bataan
• Pampanga
• Bulacan
• Metro Manila
• Rizal
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Rest of Quezon
• Camarines Provinces 
• Catanduanes

Santi is forecast to move at a rate of 15 km/h towards the west.

Nari, as Santi is known internationally, is being described as a “severe tropical storm” by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), while the US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) has already upgraded Nari as a typhoon.

PAGASA, JMA, and the JTWC all forecast the system to cross Luzon over the weekend, particularly over the general area of central and northern Luzon: making landfall in the general area of Aurora and Isabela, and exiting in the area of Pangasinan and La Union.

The storm is estimated to bring moderate to intense rainfall (5.0-20.0 mm/h) within its 500 km diameter.

Residents in areas with storm warning signals should be on alert for possible flash floods and landslides, the bureau said, with people living in coastal areas under signal number 2 advised to be on alert against storm surges.

In addition, the bureau said it is risky to travel at sea in the eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon and Visayas.

The next bulletin is scheduled to be released at 5 am. – Rappler.com